Even so, in these last few days there’d been those moments of laughter. And those moments when she saw him looking tired. She didn’t want to ask him about it, though she understood now how hard he did work. Always on call. Always checking.
As their passion grew more frantic, curiosity rose inside. Unbidden. Unwanted. Unavoidable.
“Long day?” she asked, another week into their nightly trysts, as she looked at him frowning down at his phone.
He glanced up, surprised. “You really want to know?” He laughed as he checked his screen again. “Procurement issues.”
“You have trouble getting what you need?”
“Sometimes.” He looked at her meaningfully.
“All I need is the ride home,” she leaned over and whispered conspiratorially. “Nothing more.”
“And the faster the better?”
“You’re getting it.”
“Yeah I am.” He nodded.
But early the next morning, when she’d come to work just to fill in time, he came in looking tense.
“What’s up?” she asked, wiping the bar harder.
“Looking for Krista.”
“Why Krista?” A flare of jealousy shot under her ribs.
“I have a problem and I know she’ll more than likely help me. She’s nice that way. Accommodating.”
“Careful,” Savannah warned. “If Luca hears you talking like that. He’s more than likely to knock you out.”
“He can try.”
“What’s the problem?”
He looked back down at his phone, tapping out a text reply. “Like you’re really interested?”
“Curious. Not necessarily interested. What is it?”
“Wedding tomorrow. Huge. Fabulous guests already installed and swanning around with their pre-wedding celebrations. Their ‘specially picked’ florist arrived early this morning but is now down with a stomach bug. Austin’s put her in isolation and her assistant, just in case, but the potential for disaster is huge. Meanwhile, the flowers need care and placing. I have another florist, but she needs help.”
“You have tonnes of staff”
“Three more flower people are isolated. The others are all very busy working on the other arrangements. So, seeing Krista is not here, I’m going to help her.”
“You’re going to arrange flowers?”
“Sure.”
“This I gotta see.”
“Don’t you have a job of your own to do?”
“No,” she tossed the cleaning cloth. “I was just filling in time. The kitchen guys will be here in a bit and I’m not officially on for about four hours.”
“Hmm. Do you think you might even help?”
“If you play your cards right, I might.”
He suddenly smiled. “Even though I’m the enemy?”
She sighed. “You already know I’ve given up on that. You know I’m toothless.”
“I would never have said that.”
“Why Krista?” Savannah asked, once they’d loaded into his SUV. Given the amount of snow around, she was now glad of his over-sized, super-powerful car.
“She’s always looking for some extra work. In case you’ve not noticed, she works long hours at St Clair’s too.”
“I thought that was because she likes being near Luca.”
“Sure. And that’s a Romeo and Juliet relationship if ever there was one. Luca’s father doesn’t want her with him. She doesn’t come from money, so that’s an issue for him.”
“What is it with fathers?” Savannah rolled her eyes.
Laughing, he reached over and rubbed his hand on her knee. “Anyway, Luca’s finally grown a pair and has gone for it. Well, at least while Bill’s away.”
“You know about everyone’s relationships?”
“It’s not that big a town.”
And he was the almighty overseer, wasn’t he?
“You wanna see the set-up?” He wheedled, with a wink as he pulled up outside the Lodge. “Summerhill at it’s most romantic?”
“Where did you get all these flowers from?” Amazed she stared around the room filled with beautiful scented blooms. The hills were nothing but snow out there. Beautiful but barren.
“Sugar, this is Summerhill, you can get just about anything if you pay enough.” Connor chuckled.
“I guess that’s something you you’d know about,” she said tartly. She turned back towards the room, breathing in the gorgeous aromas. “I’ll help you, but I’m not taking any money from you.”
“You’re helping me out as a friend?” He sent her a meaningful look.
“I’m just helping.”
He took her hand and pulled her into the depths of the room. “Come and meet Gwyn, she’s the stand-in florist.”
Turned out there was actually a woman half-buried amongst the masses of blooms. Gwyn straightened as Connor called to her. She looked both stressed and relieved to see him.
“Gwyn, this is Savannah, another set of hands for you.”
“Oh thank you.”
“No problem,” Savannah nodded. “Tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it.”
“Why do you never say that to me?” Connor asked, plaintive yet good-humored. And sexy.
She quelled the shiver than ran through her. “You’re too used to getting your own way.”
“Not with you,” he purred.
“Then pick someone else. There are many woman who’d line up to do your beck and call. Indulge your every whim.”
He grimaced.
“So, you know Connor well then?” Gwen interrupted, a wryly amused look on her face.
“Not really.” Savannah turned to send him a wicked look. “I’m just using him for sex.”
“You’re just not afraid to say the most awful thing that comes into your head, are you?” Connor leaned a hip against the table.
“You like me for it,” she answered blandly. “Anyway, it’s the truth.”
“Actually,” he turned to Gwyn. “Beneath all the artfully arranged prickles, Savannah conceals a soft heart. Secretly she’s falling in love with me.”
“Actually,” Savannah turned to Gwyn and mimicked his arrogant tones. “His ego can’t cope with the
fact that I won’t fall for him and that I’m only interested in his body.”
The woman’s mouth hung slightly ajar and she was staring from one to the other of them like she was watching the Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows. “Yeah, right. I can see that.”
Savannah scowled. “Every woman falls for him?”
“Who knows?” Connor smiled. “But my body’s a good place to start.”
“Well, duh.”
He was joking. Playing it up for his staff. And deliberately baiting her. But there was that spark of truth in every joke, right?
She watched as he suddenly reached for his phone, again, his frown descending as he read the screen. “Just go,” she waved him off. “We’ll be fine. Trust me.”
His eyes met hers for a prolonged moment. “Alright.”
Gwyn looked up from the giant arrangement of flowers she was creating. “For the record, I’ve never seen Connor like that with any woman.”
Savannah winced as she pricked herself on a rose thorn. “It’s just a game,” she sucked her finger, cursing her clumsiness so early into the floral marathon. “It’s nothing. Come on, we need to get these organized.”
Connor couldn’t stand it any more. He wanted more of her. The nightly quickies were nothing but an appetizer and only serving to increase his hunger. He was ready for the full banquet. The only way to sate their need, was to overload. Indulge in their own little orgy.
He fantasised about chaining her to his bed for three days. That would do it.
“I feel like being the boss now,” he stepped in front of her as she made her way to the ballroom.
“You are the boss. Do you want my help with the flowers, or not?” She pushed past him, a glorious bouquet weighing her down.
He didn’t give a damn about the flowers or the wedding or anyone else. Which he knew wasn’t right, but he was going with it. He followed her to the ballroom. She marched ahead to place the decoration as the centrepiece of one of the forty linen clad round tables.
“Savannah suggested we change the bridal table’s arrangement for a slightly smaller bouquet, I think it looks good, don’t you?” Gwyn walked up beside him, her face flushed despite the fact they’d turned the thermostat right down to keep the flowers fresh for tomorrow.